[image description: a dutch angle shot over charon's caped shoulder, showing maes at her desk. her face looks tired, but has a difficult to discern intent. she's a brown-furred cat furry with large, horizontally positioned ears tipped in green tufts, long, fluffy black hair, and an hourglass build. her outfit is a black tight dress with green accents, featuring sleeves with cutouts at the shoulder and a much looser green scarf. her prosthetic eyes are portrayed as black filled in shapes, her eyelids green and half lidded over them. maes' posture is upright, and it's clear she means business. even with all of the gravity of her pose and expression, the atmosphere of the image and textures on maes are warm, as if charon's emotions are tinting the situation. on the desk, charon's folder sits.]
She’s curious, testing him. Something about him’s off, and she can't quite place it yet…and more than anything, she wants to see more. She flashes her teeth quickly as she exhales, too fast to be read as intentional…to anyone but him.
Charon’s tail flicks in a half-wag, anything but a fear response- the porcelain plates on it clattering just loud enough to be audible.
The karacel in front of him’s ear twitches again, but she continues.
MAES: Your file…says you boast exceptional pain tolerance.
CHARON: It's the peak threshold for any non-synthetic being.
MAES: And how has this been tested? I assume to know such a thing, you'd have to have survived some incidents.
CHARON: I've endured electrocution and varying slash and bite based injuries without passing out, screaming, or going into shock. It's in my medical records.
She drums her claws on the desk, her expression purposefully flat- as if she’s trying to hold a straight face and not let anything slip.
A soft noise of her own escapes, barely perceptible.
Charon’s ears perk up.
MAES: That…should come in handy.
She tries to veer things back on course.
MAES: Such durability will hopefully be unneeded, but it's definitely interes- a perk.
CHARON: A perk?
MAES: It's better that you're more well prepared, that's all.
That was clearly not all.
CHARON: Prepared for what exactly if I may ask?
MAES: It's an old lab, many parts of it untouched for over a decade- like I mentioned prior, I refuse to send anyone down there that isn't ready for the potential risks.
She keeps her voice even.
CHARON: I'm more than prepared for something like this, I'm not too worried.
MAES: I suppose that makes up for the occult interest, then…
She flips to the next page, studying its contents.
MAES: It also says you have an expertise in old technology. Am I to expect difficulty with operating modern equipment?
Even with her attempts to remain straight-faced, her teeth seem to show more and more when she talks, or at the very least, Charon’s attention keeps getting drawn more and more to them.
CHARON: I should be absolutely fine with modern equipment, and anything I'm not familiar with can be explained with ease.
The dog tries his best not to make a sound but he’s fidgeting more than a little, and audibly, in no small part due to the damn porcelain.
MAES: Is something the matter, Judgment?
CHARON: Nothing, why do you ask?
MAES: Nothing.
MAES: Perhaps I'm just reading you wrong.
She closes his file, sliding it across the table.
MAES: You're coming off rather…agitated.
CHARON: I've been sitting quite a bit today, so it's a little difficult.
The dog takes his file back.
MAES: You seem like a fit for the job, at least… though we'll have to see how you perform.
MAES: I have big expectations for you, Judgment.
She rests her hands in her lap, clearly trying to ignore how tense the room had become.
MAES: And quite the first impression.
CHARON: Oh?
The dog leans forward in his chair.
CHARON: I'd assume they're quite good ones based on what you've read for the most part.
MAES: We'll see if you live up to your records.
She leans in just as much, without realizing.
MAES: Don't get cocky before you've even had a chance to show what you can do.
CHARON: I don't underperform, I have too much reputation at stake.
MAES: So you've told me.
She sits up straight once more, trying to get back to her professional posture from earlier.
MAES: You should go discuss lodging and your duties with Synna, she's a few departments down.
MAES: I'm sure she can get you up to speed on how we do things here.
CHARON: Mm, room number?
The dog gets to his feet and brushes himself off.
CHARON: I'm not familiar with this place so I need a point of reference.
MAES: 173. It'll have her name on the door. Oh, and, Judgment?
CHARON: Yes?
MAES: There's a single occupancy restroom just outside the waiting room.
MAES: I would personally recommend you…compose yourself, before meeting with Synna.
She keeps her tone clinical, the slightest bit of blush crossing her cheeks.
CHARON: Excuse me?
He raises a brow in response.
MAES: Just a suggestion…I have work to get back to.
CHARON: I think I'll manage fine. Thank you for your time.
MAES: Don't fail me, Judgment.
CHARON: I do not plan to.